Internal-combustion engine



May 11 1926.

/ W. P. RUDKIN INTERNAL coMBusToN ENGINE 4' Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 17, 1923 Wma.'

May .11 ,1926. l 1,584,657

` W. P. RUDKIN INTERNAL` COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 17.1923 4 sheets-sheet 2 Ta?" y ao: new

May 11 1926. 1,584,657

W. P. RUDKIN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 17, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 atto: nur

May 11 1926.

W. P. RUDKIN IglTEHNAL coMBUsTloN ENGINE Filed Jan. 17, 1923 4 sheets-sheet 4 @HMM m10 Patented May 1l, 1926.

UNITED STATES WTLLIAM PAUL RUDKIN, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

INTENAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application led January 17, 1923. Serial No. 613,199.

This invent-ion relates to an internal combustion engine and particularly to an improvement upon the construction shown in my pending application filed October 31, 1921, Serial No. 511,688.

' his invention seeks primarily to secure a complete combustion and expansion of a fuel of low volatility, such as crude oil and the like, which in the, yprior art have been ineiiciently vaporized and compressed prior to ignition.' As is well known, the maxlmum power is secured through a high coinpression and expansion of the low grade fuel as in the Diesel type of engine, but such constructions require supplemental pumping means to` secure the compression and depend u on the expansion of the fuel by contact wit the high temperature of thc cylinder. 1t has been found that at the point of vaporization of most fuels of low volatility, such as crude oil, the lower the volatility the greater the expansion thereof. The fuels of high volatility, such as gasoline, have lower breaking points which reuire less heat in order to expand. When ghe fuel of high volatility isV ignited or exploded it therefore produces an initial expansion which acts upon the body of 1 ow volatile fuel so as to supplement the engine compression thereof whlch results in a disintegration of the fine particles and a complete combustion and expansion which increases the power relative to the amount of fuel. Y

v rlhis invention therefore seeks to provide means by which a fuel of low volatihty 1s introduced at a cylinder head and receives its primary compression in the action of the engine. vAt substantially the same time a fuel of high volatility is introduced into an auxiliary firing chamber which communicates with rthe cylinder through a relatively restricted passage so as to avoid commingling with the fuels and consequent effect upon their product by the reduction of the volatility of theA high grade fuel. When the Alatter is i ited the expansion thereof acts downwar ly upon the bodyk of low grade fuel in the cylinder and effects a supplemental compression thereof which 'secures the most effectual results in the expansion of the `fuel of low volatility at the instant of its ignition. The operation just referred to is practically instantaneous so that the main fuel charge is exploded at a silghtly slower rate from the charge of high volatility because the heavier oil is under a denser or higher compression and the firing charge ignites rst and is quicker inaction.

This improvement, while embodyin the essentlal features of the main and auxl iary charges of different volatility disclosed in my prior application before mentioned, provides means by which the supplementalvalve to controlthe high grade charge may be applied to engines of well known types and connections for operating such valve adapted for application to the usual main valve controlling mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction ofthe auxiliary valve chamber by which the valve therein is disposed so as to be directly acfuels of 'high and low volatility are adapted y to be simultaneously actuated in proper relation and the area thereof varied so-as to secure the desired proportion ofthe charges as it is desirable to'f'eed alar er amount of tfhellow grade fuel than of't ef high grade Other yand further objects and advantages of the invention are hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the ap `ended claims.

In t e drawings:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the invention applied to an engine.'

I lFigure 2 is a vertical section on substantially theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail section of a'modiied .form of the invention applicable to-an overhead valve typeof engine.

Figure 4 1s a detail enlarged section on approximately line 4 4 of Figure-2.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a modified form of the invent-ion embodying-a water cooled head andk valve chamber. i

Figure 6 is a vertical section of a modied form of head in which the `auxiliary valve is providedwith av plurality of feed mgl assages.`

i e numerals refer to like parts inthe several figures of the drawings.

2 LWB? The numeral 10 designates an engine structure which may be of any desired type or'conguraticn and is herein-shown wit a vertically disposed cylinder 11 provided with a piston 12 from w ich the usual piston rod 13 extends. The head 14 for this cylinder may be water-jacketed as sh'own at 15 and provides a chamber 16 to receive fuel of low'volatility, the intake of which is controlled by a valve 17 cooperating with a seat 18 as shown in Figure 2. The intake to this valve communicates'with a manifold 19 from which the usual intake pipe 2O extends to a carburetor 21 of any usual type and is fed from the pipe line 22 communicating with a source of supply for crude oil, kerosene or any other fuel of relatively low volatility. The engine cylinder just referred to is provided With the usual exhaust valve 23, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, which communicates with an exhaust manifold 24 in the usual manner. An auxiliary valve 26 for the control of the fuel of high volatility', such as gasoline or the like, is applied at the ,usual spark plug opening 14 in the type of engine shown in Figure-2. This valve may be of any preferred general construction and cooled in any desiredmanner. The auxiliary valve 27 in the preferred form of the invention controls the intake passage 28 and is disposed in alinement with a spark plug 29 of any desired type which is threaded intothe boss 30 for that purpose. Ex tending f rom the valve 27 to the upper portion of the lengine head is a feed passage 31 which is disposed in substantially a straight line so as to effect a direct downward pressure of the exploded fuel within this passage or chamber to most etfectually compress fuel already fillinv' the chamber 16 at the cylinder head. Tlie fuel passage 28 is in communication WithI a feed pipe for fuel of high volatility such as shown at 32 which extends to a carburetor 33 of the usual form. From this carburetor the gas feed pipe 34 extends to a feed tank 35 disposed in any preferred location. For the purpose of cooling the auxiliary valve chamber 26 the Walls thereof may be provided With fins or ribs 36 which effect the usual air cooling of parts. It will be noted that thesize or area of the intake valve 27 fortlie fuel of high volatility is less than that of the valve 17 controlling the fuel of low volatility andthus a relative proportioning of the charges is effected.

The intake valve 27 may be actuated simultaneously with the valve 17 through any desired connections, such for instance as shown in my prior application, but I have herein disclosed a form of connection adapted for convenient attachment to the ordinary engine construction. In this form the stem 37 of the valve 27 is surrounded by a seating spring 38 which bears against a fixed part of the casing and also against a head 39 carried by the valve stem. This stem is h extended beyond the head as at 40 and has a rocking seat in the vertical arm of the crank member 41, the horizontal arm 42 of which is adapted to be actuated by a connection from the fixed valve controlling mechanism'of the engine. This crank arm is pivotally mounted at 43 upon a bracket 44 secured to tli'e engine head by the bolts 45 thereof as shown in Figure 2.

The arm 42 of the crank member is actuated in its vertical movement by a push rod 46 having an adjustable head 47 and connected at its lower end to a lifter 48 by means of a pivot pin 49. This lifter extends laterally from a shaft 50 mounted in a bearin plate 51 by an elongated bearing 52 formed therein. The plate 51 is bolted to the usual valve case of the engine and replaces the ordinary closure plate used for that part.

The inner end of the rock shaft 50 carries a tappet finger 53 disposed beneath the stem 54 of the valve 17 controlling the intake to,

the cylinder head. This valve stem is surrounded by the usual closing spring 55 bearing against a fixed part and a head 56 carried by the stein. The stem of the valve 17 is actuated in the usual manner by a lifter 57 which also engages the interposed finger 53, and is actuated by the ordinary intake cam 58 upon a cam shaft 59 forming'part of the usual engine construction. The plate 5 1 before described may be secured to the engine frame in any manner, for instance, by means of a nut and bolt 60 as indicated in Figure 4.

For the purpose of controlling the How of fuel through the intake manifolds each of the carbui'etors may be provided with any desired form of throttle, for instance, a throttle 61 is applied to the carburetor 21 for the fuel of lowy volatility and a throttle 62 controls the intake of the fuel of high volatility. These throttles may be operated by any suitable connections and are particularly desirable in the starting action of the motor under which conditions the throttle for the low grade fuel is closed, causing a greater suction and feed through the carbui'etor of the high grade fuel and a consequently richer mixture for the starting action. y

In the modification disclosed by Figure 3 a for1n of auxiliary valve is shown which is particularly applicable to an overhead valve type of engine and is designed for application to the spark plug opening, as explained in connection Witli Figures l and 2. n this form of the invention the auxiliary vallve ciainber 63 is provided ivith an inta te va ve 64 disposed o Oste a s ark lu 65. An intake passagep extendps frolfn manifold 67 to the valve 64 and a firing passage 68 extends from the chamber 63 to the `water cooling for the radiator blades.

upper portion of the cylinder, as usual in this class of engines.

This chamber is shown as provided with radiator blades 69 while an intake valve stem 70 is actuated by a lifter arm 71 carried by a tappet rod 72 acting upon a pivoted rocker 7 3 the opposite end of which actuates the main intake valve 74; forming part of the usual engine construction. In this form of the invention, the rod 72 may be actuated by the valve lifters as before described.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 5 the. engine head is adaptcd to be replaced by a water cooled head and auxiliary valve chamber effectlng the functions before described, but substitutingIa n this form the engine 75 is provided with a piston 76, and an intake' valve 77 of the usual construction. The head 78 is provided with any desired configuration of Water passage 79 and an intake valve 80 for fuel of high volatility is disposed in a valve chamber 81 opposite a spark plug 82 and directly communicating with the upper portion of a, fuel chamber 83 by a passage 84. The stem 85 of the valve 80 is actuated by a rocker'86 and a push rod 87 having an operative'connection 88 with a lifter 89 of the valve 77 similar in character and operation to that described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 6 a modified form of the auxiliary valve is shown and provides a plurality of passages from the ex losion chamber for the fue-l of high volatility leading to the cylinder head chamber containlng the fuel of lower volatility. This structure distributes the flame and pressure from the initial explosive action over a large area and is particularly adapted for extra large motors or as an intake valve in the type of engine provided with a valve at its head. In this form of the invention the ordinary engine head is replaced, as is, explained in connection with Figure 5, by a head formed with a water jacket 91 and with an auxiliary valve chamber 92l provided at one side with an intake valve 93 and opposite thereto with a spark plug 94. From the chamberv 92 a series of passages 95 extend downward to the main valve chamber 96 adapted to' be charged with a fuel of low volatility. These passages may be arranged in any desired manner, for instance, radiated from the axis of the chamber 92 as shown. A valve stem 97 is adapted to be actuated in any desired manner, for instance, as shown in Figure 5, and a suitable fuel intake 98 communicates with the valve 93.

In the operation of the invention it will be apparent that the upward stroke of-the engine piston, after exhaust, compresses the charge of fuel of low volatility within the chamber directly above the piston, such fuel 'stantaneous being admitted during the usual timed valve opening action for the main intake valve.. Simultaneously with the opening of thisl valve, the auxiliar valve admits a charge of fuel of high vo atility through the connection shown for simultaneous operation of the valves, and this high grade charge is admitted to be fired from the auxiliary valve chamber superposed above theordinary ignition chamber of the engine.

The effect of such firing is to create a supplemental pressure upon the low grade fuel which further compresses the same and causes it to develop a greater power in its expansive action. The firing action also carries a flame causing combustion of the low grade fuel to effect such expansion and the operation just described is substantially in- By disposing the auxiliary valve chamber in position to discharge through a restricted passage upon the upper surface of the low grade charge an intermingling of these fuels is prevented and this is of importance in maintaining the high grade charge undiluted to effect a clean and sharp explosion, producing both pressure upon and ignition of the low grade fuel. As before described the. charges of fuel may be controlled by throttling action to enrich the mixture at the starting of the engine andthe intake valves are of relatively .different area or capacity so as to properly proportion the charges of high and low grade fuell during the norma-l and continued operation of the engine.

The disposition of the intake valve for the fuel of high volatility in alinement with the spark plug renders the same easy of access and the discharge from the combustion chamber of this valve is in a substantially girct line upon the main body of low grade The invention provides a construction applicable to ordinary types of explosive gas engines without affecting the construction thereof, by which fuel of low volatility can be successfully used and the fullest power is obtained by the supplemental compression of the low grade charge before the same is ignited. If this latter charge be compressed to such a degree that its heat is equivalent to that of the exploded high grade charge it would be evident that the expansion is secured by a combustion of the fuel rather than an explosive action thereof.

While the specific details of construction have been shown and described in the disclosure of the invention, it is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made `therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

`What I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a piston and cylinder having a normal intake valve, a cylinder head provided'with an auxiliary intake valve, a rock arm for actuating said auxiliary valve, a rod for operating said arm, a rock shaft connected to lift said rod, and means carried by said shaft forl actuation by the controlling means for the normal intake valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a piston and cylinder having a normal intake valve, a casing enclosing controlling means for said valve, a cylinder head provided with an auxiliary valve casing, an intake valve and ignition means in said casing, a rock arm for actuating said auxiliary intake valve, a

ush rod engaging said arm, a cover plate or said casing, .a rock shaft journaled in said platez and means carried by said shaft for actuatlng said rod and engaging the controlling means for the normal intake valve. 3. In an internal combustion engine, a piston and cylinder having a normal intake valve, a casing enclosing controlling means for said valve, a cylinder head provided with an auxiliary valve casing, an auxiliary intake valve and ignition means within said casing, a bell crank lever engaging the stem of the auxiliary intake valve, a push rod engaging the opposite arm of said lever, a

cover plate for said casing provided with an elongated bearing, a rock shaft disposed in said bearing and having a crank member connected to said rod, and an actuatin finger upon said shaft disposed beneat stem of the normal intake valve.

4. In an intern l combustion engine, an auxiliary valve at acliment adapted for application to the spark plug opening of said engine and comprising a casing provided with an intake valve and i ition means, and actuating means for saidx1 auxiliary intake valve constructed and arranged for cooperation With the controlling means for the norma-l intake valve of the engine.

5. In an internalcombustion engine. an auxiliary valve attachment adapted for application to the spark plugr opening thereof and comprising a casing, an auxiliary intake valve and ignition means within said casing, a bracket supported upon theengine frame carrying means to actuate said valve, and an operative connection from said actuating means disposed to be engaged by the controlling means for the normal intake valve of said engine.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WILLIAM PAUL RUDKIN.

the 

